Bottle carrier



y 8, 1942. c. E. koLB ETAL 2,291,477

BOTTLE CARRIER Filed May 24, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 mu mu n Patented July 28, 1942 .UNITED STATES. PATENT OFFICE some caanma Clyde E. Kolb and David L. Morgan, Dayton, Ohio, assignors, by direct and mono assignments, to Econokit Corporation, Dayton, Ohio Application May 24 1940, Serial No. 337,104

' 24 Claims. (01. 294-87) the lower portions of the bottles in substantiallyfixed positions with relation one to the other.

A further object of the invention is to provide such a carrier having bottle supportin parts and bottle holding parts and means for retaining said parts in operative'relation to the neck '01 the bottle.

A further object of the invention is to provide such a carrier having bottle supporting.- parts, bottle holding parts and handle controlled means for retaining said supporting parts in supporting positions.

A further object of the invention is to provide such a carrier which may be formed of small diameter bars, such as wire.

Other objects of the invention may appear as the carrier is described in detail.

In the accompanying drawings Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a. carrier embodying our invention, showing the same as applied to the bottles, with the lower portions of the bottles broken away; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the carrier oLFig. 1; Fig. 3 is a section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1, and looking in the direction of the arrows; Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view of a modified form of carrier; Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a double carrier in which the individual. carrying elements are of modified construction; Fig. 6 is a section taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5; Fig, '7 is a detail view of one of the locking connections between supporting members; Fig. 8 is a transverse section taken through a bottle carrier showing a modified form of locking device; Fig.

9 is a longitudinal section taken through the carrier of Fig. 8 on the line 9-9, looking in the direction of the arrows; and Fig. 10 is a plan view or a portion of the supporting structure showing the locking device of Fig. 8 in section.

2) having parts adapted to embrace the necks o! a plurality of bottles and to have supporting engagement with the enlarged upper ends of the bottle necks, the supporting parts being of such a character and so arranged that the carrier may be easily applied to and removed from the bottles. Supported by the upper structure Ais a lower structure B having parts adapted to engage the sides of the bottles which are supported on the upper structure and to hold the same against relative lateral movement while they are supported on the upper structure, thereby avoiding both the noise and the danger of breaking the bottles which woud result from the bottles knocking together.

The supporting structure and the holding structure may take various forms and, as here shown,

ably formed in one piece with the respective meiribers 5 and, in the construction shown, are shaped to provide recesses through which the necks of the bottles may extend. When, as in the present instance, the carrier is formed of wire orsmall bars these recesses may be formed by bending bars as shown. When the two members 5 are moved apart the recessed parts are spaced one from the other such a distance that they may be placed over the enlarged upper ends I of bottle necks 8 and then moved toward one another to bring the same beneath and into supportingrelation to the enlarged upper portions of those bottle necks. Suitable means are provided,

as will be hereinafter described, to retain the supporting members in supporting relation to the bottles. I

In these drawings we have illustrated certain embodiments of our invention which differ one from the other principally in the means for retaining the bottle supporting members in sup-.

The lower or holding structure B also comprises two substantially parallel members 9 having opposed parts It! to engage the bottles and hold the latter against relative movement. As here shown, these lower members are also formed of wire bent to provide the holding parts IU of curved or recessed form sothat they will embrace-the neck of the bottle. The lower or holding structure may be supported from the upper or supporting structure in any suitable manner and preferably'the corresponding members of the two structures are connected one to the other by upright tie bars ll rier comprises an upper structure A (Figs. 1 and which are formed integral with the respective members. However, the supporting members I must be free to'move toward and fr 111 each other and the connection between the upper and lower structures must be such as to permit this movement. In the present instance, the two members 9 of the holding structure have little or no relative lateral movement but are pivotaily connected one to the other. so that they may move about longitudinal axes and 1.4113 permit the relative movement of the supporting members i. Thispivotal connection mayconven'iently take the.

form of sleeves l2, each sleeve shaped to separately embrace adjacent straight portions of the.

two members 9, hus providing a hinged connection which will permit either member to move about a longitudinal axis withrelation' to the other member.

Preferably means are provided' forretaining the supporting members 5-5 in supporting. positions, that is, holding the same against relative lateral movement after they have been moved into supporting relation to the bottle necks. This means may take various forms and may be controlled by a carrying handle or otherwise. In

the arrangement shown in Figs. 1 to 3 the carrier is provided with a locking device which is independent of the handle, the latter being shown at I]. In this construction one of the supporting members 5 carries a part H which is movable into and out of locking engagement with the corresponding part of the other supporting member 5. In the arrangement here shown a metal plate l5 has one edge portion bent about a bottle neck, the part II will extend upwardly across the adjacent member 5 and will firmly engage the same to hold the two members 5 against separation. Preferably the part ll of the plate I! is rolled upon itself to form a bead which will yield to move past the widest portion of the adjacent member 5 and so engage that member that the locking connection will be firmly but yieldably maintained. This locking device is moved about its pivotal connection with the one member 5 into and out'of locking engagement with the other member 5 by the hand of the operator and preferably the plate It extends beneath said other member 5 so that it may be moved into engagement therewith by an upward movement about its pivotal axis. While the carrier is here shown as provided with a handle it the handle is not-essential and the carrier may be carried by engaging the supporting members 5 with the hand, and with two fingers of the hand extending on the respective sides of the central bottle. When so carried the fingers will engage beneath the locking devices, therebeing a locking device on each side of the'central bers and pivotally supportthe .handle thereon.

When desired, this loop may be of oblong shape, as shown, and may be of such width that when the handle is in its upright or carrying position the loop will hold the supporting members in supporting positions independently of the locking devices I4, and when the handle is moved to a horizontal position the loops II will be so positioned relatively to the supporting members as tojpermit the separation of the latter. When such a loop is employed there is no possibility of the supporting members separating while the carrier is supported by the handle, even though the locking devices might be in their inoperative positions.

The operation of the device above described may be readily understood. When the carrier is to be applied to the bottles, which are usually arranged in line in a packing case or on a suitable support, the supporting'members are released so that they may be separated one from the other, the carrier then lowered over the bottles, the necks of which pass freely between the holding parts III of the lower structure and thenbetween the supporting parts 6 of the upper Preferably the holding parts are ar,- ranged to engage the tapered lower portions of structure.

the bottle necks at such points that the supporting members will be located just below the enlarged upper portions I of the bottle necks. The supporting members are then locked insupporting position and when the carrier is lifted the supporting part 6 of the upper structure, if not already in engagement with the enlarged portion I of the bottle neck, will be moved into engagement therewith and the-weight of the bottles will be supported on these parts. when no handle is provided or when the handle is moved to a horizontal position the locking devices will remain in their operative positions, thus permitting a plurality of groups of bottles to be stacked one on the other and the carriers retained thereon while they are so stacked. When the locking devices are moved to inoperative positions the carrier may be lifted off the bottles, the supportof the two carrying elements are provided with I inwardly extending parts Ila which are rigidly connected one to the other, as by means ofa sleeve l8. These transversely extending conbottle, and these devices will beheld in their operative positions by the weight of the bottles on the carrier.

The handle l3, when provided, need not exercise any control over the supporting members except as a carrying element but in the arrangement shown the handle. is bail shaped .and the ends of the arms of the bail are provided with loops H which embrace the twocarrying memnected parts serve to rigidly connect the two carrying elements one to the other and unite the same in a unitary structure which will carry six bottles in two parallel rows. The holding members 9 of each lower structure are pivotally connected one to the other by hinge members formed integral therewith. Those portions of one of the holdingmembers lying between the adjacent supporting part It are bent downwardly to extend beneath the other supporting member I and thenupwardly across the adjacent straight parts of the other holding member, as shown at I! in Fig. 6, thus pro.- viding a hinged connection between the two members. The locking devices for the supporting members are also formed integral with the the enlarged supporting members themselves, a portion of one supporting member lying between adjacentsupporting parts 6 being ofiset to extend beneath the adjacent straight portions of the other supporting member and bent upwardly and slightly inwardly, as shown at 20, to engage about the straight portion of the other supporting member. The upwardly bent portion 20 is so spaced from the body of the member on which it is formed that when the supporting parts 6 are in contact with the bottle neck the part 20 will engage the adjacent portion of the other member and will yield to permit it to be forced upwardly over that other member, so that it will slightly overhang the upper member and will be retained by the resilience of the members in locking engagement therewith. The handle 2! is of the type shown in Figs. 2 and 3 and the loop portions thereof may or may not have retaining engagement with the supporting members when the handle is in its carrying position.

In Figs. 8 and 9 there is shown another type of locking device for the suporting members which may be operated by the handle but which will be retained in holding engagement with the supporting members independently of the position of the handle with relation thereto. There is preferably a locking device between the central bottle and each of the two end bottles, both locking devices being of the same construction. The holding and supporting structures are similar to those shown in Fig. 2 and the supporting members are hinged together in the manner there shown. Each locking device is vertically movable and is provided with a longitudinal slot comprising a lower portion 22 and an enlarged upper portion 23 connected with the lower portion by downwardly converging portions 24. The two members of both the supporting structure and the holding structure extend through this slot and the lower narrower portion of the slot is of such width that when the edges thereof are in engagement with the two supporting members these members will be held in their supporting positions. The enlarged upper portion 23 of the slot is of a width sufficient topermit the separation of the supporting members 5 and thus enable the carrier to be removed from the bottles. When the locking device is in a lower position the supporting members 5 will lie within the larger upper portion of the slot and will separate to permit the same to pass over the enlarged upper end of the bottle neck. Upon the upward movement of the locking device the converging portions 24 thereof will move the supporting members 5 one toward the other and cause them to enter the narrow lower portion 22 of the slot. A carrying handle 25 is pivotally connected with the upper part of the locking device and may be utilized to raise or lower the two locking devices simultaneously. When the locking devices arepulled upwardly by the handle those parts of the device at the bottom of the slots will engage the holding members 9 of the lower; structure to limit the upward movement of the locking devices with relation to that lower structure. The locking. devices may be held in their upper positions by the frictional contact between the supporting members 5 and the edge of the narrow portion of the slot, but preferably the edges of the slot are recessed to receive the supporting members as shown at 22a. Thus the handle is permitted to move into either a vertical carrying position or a horizontal position without affecting the position of the locking devices and enabling the bottles to be stacked as above described. The locking devices may be of any suitable construction. As here shown, each device is formed of wire or light bar 28 bent to the desired shape, the two ends of the bar being brought together at the top of the device and bent to form eyes 26 through which extends a pintle 21 formed on the adjacent end of the handle, thereby connecting the handle with both side members of the locking device and providing a pivotal carrying connection between the locking device and the handle.

While in many cases it is usually preferable to employ a positive lock for the supporting members they may. if desired, be spring co..- trolled and in Fig. 4 we have shown spring means for retainingthe same in supporting positions. In the arrangement there shown the lower holding members 9 are not hmged one to the other but are supported for relative lateral movement. Interposed between the holding members 9 and the supporting members 5 is a resilient device comprising two pairs of spring arms I1 and I8, the outer ends of each pair of arms being biased one toward the other. The ends of the upper pair of arms I! are hooked about the respective supporting members 5, while the ends of the arms of the lower pair l8 are hooked about the respective holding members 9 so that th device exerts a constant pressure on both sets of members, which tends to move the members of each set one toward the other. When spring retaining means are used it is not necessary that the handle i 3 be provided with means for controlling the supporting members but if desired the handle may have means for positively locking the supporting members when the handle is in carrying position, as shown at l! in Fig. 3. When the spring controlled device is applied to the bottles the recessed holding parts l0 pass freely over the upper ends of the bottle necks and a slight pressure of the supporting parts 6 of the upper structure on the tops of the bottles will spread these supporting parts sufficiently to permit the same to pass over the enlarged upper parts of the bottles and they will b then immediately drawn into engagement with the bot-.

tle necks just beneath the enlarged portions thereof and the holding parts ill will likewise be held firmly in contact with the tapered portions of the bottle necks.

While we have shown and described certain embodiments of our invention we wish it to be understood that we do not desire to be limited to the details thereof as various modifications may occur to a person skilled in the art.

Having now fully described our invention what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a bottle carrier, vertically spaced upper and lower structures each comprising substantially parallel members adapted to receive bottles between them, at least one member of said lower structure being movable with relation to the other member thereof, and one member of said upper structure being connected with said movable member of said lower structure for movement therewith.

2. In a bottle carrier, vertically spaced upper and lower structures each comprising substantially parallel members adapted to receive bottles between them, at least one member of said lower structure being movable about a longitudinal axis, and the corresponding member of said upper structure being rigidly connected with said lower structure for movement therewith about,

said longitudinal axis.

4. In a bottle carrier. a lower structure com- A prising two substantially parallel members pivotally connected one with the other on a longitudinal axis and arranged to receive bottles between them, and an upper structure comprising two substantially parallel members adapted to have supporting engagement with the necks of bottles which are between the member of said lower structure, at least one member of said upper structure being connected with a member of said lower structure for movement therewith about said longitudinal axis.

5. In a bottle carrier, vertically spaced upper and lower structures each comprising substantially parallel members adapted to receive bottles between them, at least one member 01' said lower structure being movable about a longitudinal axis, and the corresponding member oi. said upper structure being rigidly connected with said movable member of said lower structure for movement therewith, and a carrying handle having a part embracing the members of said upper structure and shaped to hold said members against relative movement when said handle is in one position and to permit such movement when said handle is in another position.

6. In a bottle carrier, vertically spaced upper and lower structures each comprising two substantially parallel members, each member of both structures having a plurality of recessed parts arranged in opposed relation to the recessed parts of the othermember of that structure, each pair of recessed parts being adapted to receive a bottle between them, the members of th lower structure being pivotally connected one with the other on a longitudinal axis, and upon a longitudinal axis, and upright connecting elements rigidly secured to the adjacent ends of the corresponding members of the twostructures, one member of 'said upper structure being provided between adjacent recessed parts thereof with a laterally extending element shaped'to en-' arranged in opposed relation to the recessed parts of the other member of that structure, each pair of recessed parts being adapted to receive a bottle between them, the members of the lower structure being pivotallyconnected one with the other on a longitudinal axis, and upright connecting elements rigidly secured to the adjacent ends of the corresponding members of the two structures,

right connecting elements rigidly secured to the adjacent ends or the corresponding members of the two structures.

7. In a bottle carrier, vertically spaced upper and lower structures each comprising two substantially parallel members, each member of both structures having a plurality of recessed parts arranged in opposed relation to the recessed parts of the other member of that structure, each pair of recessed parts being adapted to receive a bottle between them, the members of the lower structure being pivotally connected one with the other on a longitudinal axis, and upright connecting elements rigidly secured to the adjacent ends of the corresponding members of the two structures, said corresponding members of the two structures being formed from a single rod bent to provide said recessed parts and said connecting elements.

8. In a bottle carrier, vertically spaced upper and lower structures each comprising two substantially parallel members, each member of both structures having a plurality of recessed parts arranged in opposed relation to the recessed parts of the other member of that structure, each pair of recessed parts being adapted to receive a bottle between them, the members of the lower structure being pivotally connected one with the other one member of said upper structure being providedbetween adjacent recessed parts thereof with a laterally extending hook-shaped part adapted to be sprung into engagement with the adjacent part of the other member of that structure when said members are in bottle engaging position. 1

10. In a bottle carrier, an upper structure comprising two relatively movable members having opposed parts adapted to have supporting engagement with the neck of a bottle, a lower structure connected with said upper structure and comprising two members connected one with the other for movement about a longitudinal axis, connected with the respective members of said upper structure and having parts arranged to receive between them a part of said bottle below said supporting parts and hold said bottle against rocking movement on said supporting parts, and means for retaining said supporting parts in supporting positions and for carrying said structure. 11. In a bottle carrier, vertically spaced upper and lower structures each comprising two pairs of substantially parallel members arranged substantiallv in a common plane, each pair of members of each structure having a plurality oi opposed parts to receive bottles between them, means for rigidly connecting the several inner members one with the other, means for pivotaily connecting the outer member of each lower pair with the inner member of that pair, and means opposed parts movable into and out of support- I ing relation tothe neck of a bottle, a lower structure comprising two substantially parallel members pivotally connected for movement about longitudinal axes and rigidly connected with the respective members of said upper structure, said lower members having opposed parts to engage said bottle and hold the same against lateral movement with relation to said upper structure, and means for retaining said supporting members in supporting positions. 7

13. In a bottle carrier, a structure comprising two substantially parallel members supported for relative lateral movement and having opposed parts movable into and out of supporting relation to the neck of a bottle, a handle pivotaily supported on said structure for movement to a substantially upright carrying position or to a substantially horizontal position, and an operable device separate from and controlled by said handle for retaining said members in their supporting positions when said handle is in carrying position or in a horizontal position.

14. In a bottle carrier, a structure comprising two substantially parallel members supported for relative lateral movement and having opposed parts movable into and out of supporting relation to the neck of a bottle, a device carried by one of said members, extending laterally therefrom and having that end portion remote from said member arranged to be hooked over the other member to retain said supporting parts in supporting positions, and means separate from said device for carrying said structure. I

15. In a bottle carrier, a structure comprising two substantially parallel members supported for relative lateral movement and having opposed parts movable into and out of supporting relation to the neck of a bottle, and a device carried by one of said members and having at one edge thereof a part adapted to be sprung over the other member to retain said supporting parts in supporting positions.

16. In a bottle carrier, a structure comprising two substantially parallel members supported for relative lateral movement and having opposed parts movable into and out of supporting relation to the neck of a bottle, and a device pivotally mounted on one of said members and having at one edge thereoi a yieldable part to engage the other member and retain said members in supporting positions.

17. In a bottle carrier, a structure comprising two substantially parallel members supported for relative lateral movement and having opposed parts movable into and out of supporting relation to the neck of a bottle, and a device pivotally mounted on one of said members, extending beneath the other member and having at that edge opposite its pivot an upwardly extending part to engage said other member and retain the two members in supporting positions.

18. In a bottle carrier, a structure comprising two substantially parallel members supported for relative lateral movement and having opposed parts movable into and out of supporting relation to the neck of a bottle, and a vertically movable device having a slot through which both members extend, the lower portion of said slot being of a width to hold said members in supporting positions and the upper portion of said slot being of a width to permit the relative movement of said members.

19. In a bottle carrier, a structure comprising two substantially parallel members supported for relative lateral movement and having opposed parts movable into and out of supporting relation to the neck of a bottle, and a vertically movable device having a slot through which both members extend, the lower portion of said slot being of a width to hold said members in supporting positions and the upper portion of said slot being 01 a width to permit relative movement of said members, and a carrying handle connected with said operable device.

20. In a bottle carrier, an upper structure comprising two relatively movable members having opposed parts adapted to have supporting engagement with the neck of a bottle, a lower structure connected with said upper structure and comprising two members having parts arranged to receive between them a part of said bottle below said supporting part and hold said bottle against rocking movement on said supporting parts, a vertically movable device having a slot through which the two members of each structure extend, said slot having an enlarged upper portion to receive both members of said upper structure and permit the relative lateral movement thereof when said device is in its lower position, and having a relatively narrow lower portion to receive both members of said upper structure and hold the same in supporting positions when said device is in its upper position.

21. In a bottle carrier, an upper structure comprising two relatively movable members having opposed parts adapted to have supporting engagement with the neck of a bottle, a lower structure connected with said upper structure and comprising two members having parts arranged to receive between them a part of said bottle below said supporting part and hold said bottle against rocking movement on said supporting I parts, a vertically movable device having a vertical slot through which the two members of both structures extend, said slot having a narrow lower portion, and a relatively wide upper portion connected with said lower portion by downwardly converging slots, and a handle pivotally connected with the upper portion of said device.

22. In a bottle carrier, an upper structure comprising two relatively movable members having opposed parts adapted to have supporting engagement with the neck of a bottle, a lower structure connected with said upper structure and having parts adapted to have holding engagement with said bottle, a handle for carrying said structures, and spring means for moving said supporting members to and retaining the same in their supporting positions.

23. In a bottle carrier, a structure comprising two members supported for relative lateral movement and having opposed parts arranged to receive the neck of the bottle between them and movable into and out of supporting relation to said bottle neck, a second structure arranged below and supported by the first mentioned structure and comprising two relatively movable members having opposed parts to engage said bottle neck and spring means acting on the members of both structures to retain the same in engagement with said bottle neck,v and a handle for carrying said structure.

24. In a bottle carrier, a structure comprising two members supported for relative lateral movement and having opposed parts arranged to receive the neck of the bottle between them and movable into and out of supporting relation to said bottle neck, a second structure arranged below and supported by the first mentioned structure and comprising two relatively movable members having opposed parts to engage said bottle neck, and two pairs of resilient arms, the outer ends of the arms of each pair being biased one toward the other, said outer ends of the arms of one pair being connected with the respective members of the first mentioned structure and said outer ends of the arms of the other pair being connected with the respective members of the second structure.

CLYDE E. KOLB. DAVID L. MORGAN. 

